INCORPORATED   UNDER    i  HI 
LAWS   OF    INDIANA 


Mexican 


Coffee  and 
Rubber 


Company 


HOME  OFFICE:    29  FITZGERALD  BUILDING 
INDIANAPOLIS,  INDIANA 


MEXICAN  COFFEE  AND 
RUBBER  COMPANY 


Incorporated  under  the  Laws 
of  Indiana 


HOME  OFFICE:      29  FITZGERALD  BUILDING 
INDIANAPOLIS,    IND. 


INDIANAPOLIS 
WM.   B,   BURFORD,   PRINTER  AND  BINDER 


..©fficers... 

W.  D.  OWEN,  President,         O.  W.  BUTT,  Vice-President, 

Secretary  of  State  of  Indiana.  Capitalist,  Kansas  City.  Mo. 

HENRY  A.  LUCE,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


...Directors... 

J.  YORBA,  W.  D.  OWEN. 

City  of  Mexico.  Q 

A.  B.  INGALSBEE,  TORRFS 

City  of  Mexico.  F-   L'   T  ES< 

MANUEL  L.  DE  GUEVARA,  CHARLES  F.  LUCE, 

Coatzacoalcos.  Logan.  Iowa. 

FRANK  L.  TORRES,  Manager  of  Plantation. 


..Boaro  of  Control.. 

HON.   THOMAS  TAGGART,  Chairman. 
HON.  A.  C.  DAILY.  WM.  B.  BURFORD. 

HON.   U.  Z.  WILEY.  HON.  JESSE  OVERSTREET. 


H.  E.  ROSE,  General  Agent, 
29  FITZGERALD  BUILDING,  INDIANAPOLIS.  IND. 


Stack 

Anne* 


Go 

JSoavb  of  Control.. 


The  by-la \vs  of  the  Mexican  Coffee  and  Rubber  Company 
provide  for  a  Board  of  Control,  whose  duty  shall  be  to 
have  a  committee  of  its  members  visit  I'bero  annually,  and 
at  any  time  on  the  request  of  the  majority  of  the  investors, 
and  make  examination  into  the  management  of  the  planta- 
tion, comparing  its  development  and  general  husbandry 
with  that  of  like  plantations  on  the  Isthmus.  This  exam- 
ination is  to  extend  into  the  plantation  of  each  investor, 
covering  the  number  of  trees  planted,  coffee,  rubber,  ba- 
nana and  pineapple,  and  the  particular  condition  of  each 
plantation,  and  report  the  same  to  the  full  Board.  This 
report  will  then  be  printed  and  a  copy  mailed  to  each 
investor. 

.Many  of  our  investors  will  visit  their  holdings  from  time 
to  time.  Others  will  probably  not  visit  their  plantation  until 
the  end  of  the  contract  term.  From  the  reports  made  by 
the  visitin.tr  investors  and  also  by  the  Board  of  Control, 
every  investor  will  be  constantly  in  touch  with  his  holding 
ami  will  be  almost  as  fully  posted  in  it  as  if  it  were  con- 
tinually under  his  own  observation. 

The  interest  of  the  Board  of  Control  is  a  common  one 
with  the  investors,  and  no  member  of  that  Board  own>  a 

3 


' 


dollar  of  stock  in  the  Company.  It  is  our  experience  that 
investors  on  the  development  plan,  on  the  Isthmus,  often 
increase  their  holdings  after  a  visit  to  the  plantation. 


36oarE>  flPembersbtp... 

Hon.  Thomas  Tag.irart  is  a  business  man  of  wide  experi- 
ence and  one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  Indiana. 
A.  C.  Daily  is  Auditor  of  State. 

Win.  B.  Burford  is  the  well-known  printer  and  publisher. 
T.   'A.   Wiley  is  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  State   Appellate 

Opart 

Mr.  Overstreet  is  the  member  of  Congress  from  the  In- 
dianapolis district. 


6u/f  of  Mexico 

i5 


Te/itiwrepec 


fiac/f/c  Ocean 


Hwakening 
of  a  Baticm,,,, 


Tin*  Republic  of  Mexico  lies  south  of  the  United  States 
like  ;i  golden  wedge  between  the  Gulf  and  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  dowered  by  a  measureless  value  of  soil  and  cli- 
mate  and  precious  stones.  When  the  victorious  soldiers 
of  Corte/  swept  and  pillaged  through  the  halls  of  ilie  Mon- 
te/umas'  they  found  a  magnificence  of  luxury  and  a  gor- 
geousness  of  wealth  unknown  to  Castile  and  Leon.  Two 
hundred  miles  north  of  the  City  of  Mexico,  the  territory 
spreads  over  three  thousand  square  leagues,  an  arid  waste, 
but  its  broken  mountain  sides  and  rugged  gorges  for  centu- 
ries yielded  precious  metals  with  a  hand  so  lavish  that  the 
cities  and  homes  of  the  Aztecs  rivaled  Solomon  in  his 
glory. 

South  of  the  City  of  Mexico  begins  the  sub-tropics.  A 
series  of  rolling  hills  and  valleys  irrigated  by  streams  of 
water  pure  as  crystal  sweeping  through  a  soil  fertile  as 
the  plains  of  the  Jordan  three  thousand  years  ago.  and  the 
richest  and  most  productive  soil  on  the  globe  to-day.  Three 
hundred  miles  down  this  tapering  waste  of  the  continent  is 
found  the  Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec.  where  the  extremes  of 
the  thermometer  are  ."it;  and  98,  where  fever  has  never  been 
known  to  enter,  where  the  water  is  sweet  as  a  mountain 
spring,  where  the  soil  is  five  to  fifteen  feet  deep,  where 
rain  descends  like  refreshing  dews  from  heaven  and  each 

9 


succeeding  season  brings  bloom  and  bud  and  crop.  But 
Nature,  so  prodigal  in  gifts  to  this  country,  had  a  limit  to 
her  generosity  and  narrowed  this  Nile  of  America  to  one 
hundred  and  seventy  miles  width.  As  the  salt  brei-x.es  of 
the  (iulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Pacific  Ocean  play  back  and 
forth  over  this  wristlet  of  the  hemisphere,  they  keep  the 
air  ] »ure  by  their  salt  breath,  while  waving  mahogany  and 
cedar  and  pine  and  rosewood  and  the  perfume  of  oranuv 
and  pineapple  blossom,  and  the  delicate  aroma  of  budding 
coffee  and  ripening  vanilla  and  chocolate,  make  the  air 
odoriferous  as  the  famous  spicelands  of  the  Orient. 

Nature's  richest  gifts  are  always  bound  in  narrow  pack- 
ages; so  Mexico's  arid  plains  are  two  thousand  miles  broad, 
but  the  land  which  Cortex  found,  the  garden  of  the  world, 
is  only  one  hundred  and  seventy  miles  wide. 

It  is  related  by  the  historians  of  Mexico  that  when  their 
ancient  people  wandered,  homeless  and  oppressed  by  invad- 
ing tribes,  their  prophet  said:  "When  an  eagle  shall 
rest  on  a  cactus  in  the  midst  of  the  camp,  there 
shall  you  build  your  city,  and  it  shall  be  set  for 
the  defense  of  the  Nation."  Their  priest  and  leader, 
rising  early  one  morning,  beheld  an  eagle  with  out- 
stretched wings,  facing  the  rising  sun,  with  a  snake  grasped 
in  its  talons  and  held  aloft  in  death  struggle.  The  priestly 
leader  quickly  trumpeted  his  camp,  and.  pointing  to  the 
imposing  emblem,  declared  the  words  xpoken  by  their 
prophet  had  found  answer.  At  nightfall,  the  tirst  stakes  of 
the  City  of  Mexico  had  been  planted,  and  thereon  was  built 
a  city  destined  to  change  the  current  of  human  history. 
An  eagle  standing  on  a  cactus  and  grasping  a  snake  with 
talons  and  beak  remains  to  this  day  the  emblem  of  the 
Nation. 

10 


Early  in  The  sixteenth  century  its  rule  was  overthrown 
by  a  Spanish  invasion  and  the  people  wore  held  in  sub- 
ject ion  for  three  hundred  years.  At.  last  their  sleeping 
prowess  was  awakened,  under  the  leadership  of  a  priest, 
who.  barefooted,  had  traveled  the  nation  over  and  knit  her 
people  together  by  a  secret  oath  which  had  never  been  di- 
vulged, and  on  the  appointed  night  signal  tires  (lashed  from 
valley  and  hill-to])  over  the  whole  land,  and  the  Mexicans 
fell  on  the  descendants  of  their  Spanish  invaders  and  slew 
and  drove  the  oppressors  from  out  of  the  land. 

The  nation  has  been  half  a  century  in  coining  to  peace 
and  finding  stability,  but  with  it  the  twelve  millions  of  her 
people  wake  to  find  themselves  at  the  doorstep  of  the 
Tinted  States,  the  most  advanced  and  prosperous  country 
on  the  globe,  while  they  are  wearing  sandals,  plowing  with 
crooked  sticks  and  living  in  shacks. 

Fifteen  years  ago.  with  pence  and  stable  government, 
there  came  to  Mexico  the  dream  of  wealth  and  power.  With 
a.  wisdom  that  out  reached  many  of  the  older  nations,  her 
people  asknowledged  their  inability  to  cope  with  the  prog- 
ress of  the  nineteenth  century,  and  threw  open  the  portals 
of  the  nation  and  invited  industries  and  commercial  activ- 
ity to  come  freely  and  build  a  home  with  them.  English 
and  German  capitalists  availed  themselves  of  this  invita- 
tion. They  constructed  a  gridiron  of  railroads  throughout 
the  country.  They  then  established  a  chain  of  banks,  with 
the  parent  bank  at  the  City  of  Mexico.  This  was  followed 
by  the  construction  of  street  railways  and  electric  light 
plants  in  all  the  cities  having  over  1.~>.<HK>  inhabitants.  The 
government  was  fashioned  after  the  model  of  the  United 
Stales,  having  twenty-seveji  States,  with  a  Congress  and 
President,  and  generally  all  the  institutions  of  our  country. 

11 


They  proceeded  to  follow  still  further  the  American  ideals 
by  establishing  a  free  school  system,  furnishing  tuition  Mini 
school-lxmks  free  to  the  pupils.  While  the  great  nations  of 
the  world  have  been  barely  holding  their  own  during  this 
pericxl.  the  Republic  of  Mexico  lias  enjoyed  unparalleled 
prosperity. 

Three  years  since.  President  l>iax.  whose  wisdom  and  pa- 
triotic statesmanship  will  rank  him  in  history  with  Wash- 
ington and  Cromwell,  completed  the  Tehuantepec  Railroad, 
crossing  the  Isthmus  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  at  the  port 
of  Coat/.acoalcos  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  at  the  port  of  Salina 
Cruz.  Because  of  the  rich,  dense  tropical  undergrowth, 
the  Isthmus  was  an  almost  unexplored  land,  settlements 
being  confined  along  the  rivers  whence  natives  could  con- 
vey their  coffee  and  rubber  and  pineapples  to  the  sea- 
coast  by  the  primitive  transportation  of  a  canoe.  The 
opening  of  this  railway,  putting  the  most  fertile  lands  on 
the  continent  in  electric  touch  and  steam  connection  with 
the  great  march  of  the  world,  was  like  weaving  a  strand  of 
pearls  on  a  cloth  of  gold. 

Before  the  railroad  was  completed  Mexico  begun  to  at- 
tract the  attention  of  the  I'nited  States.  A  people  usually 
of  quick  perception,  we  had  been  laggards  in  this  vineyard 
and  had  allowed  the  Englishman  and  German  to  come  from 
across  the  sea  and  possess  the  earliest  developments  of 
the  country.  But  the  Americans  now  began  to  pour  into 
the  Republic,  securing  concessions  for  manufactories  and 
selecting  the  most  profitable  agricultural  fields.  Two 
years  before  the  Isthmus  road  was  completed  a  company 
of  Americans  opened  up  a  large  tract  of  land  twenty  miles 
from  the  road  by  river  transportation.  They  sold  out  much 
Of  this  land  on  what  is  known  as  the  development  plan: 

12 


that  is.  the  purchaser  paid  ;i  certain  sum  per  acre  for  five 
years,  at  which  time  he  received  ,-i  deed  for  the  one  hun- 
dred-acre trad  purchased,  and  then  executed  a  mortgage 
for  two  equal  annual  payments  for  the  remainder  of  his 
indebtedness,  reserving  the  option  to  pay  in  cash  or  permit 
the  company  to  accept  the  crops  for  the  TWO  years  for  the 
indebtedness,  the  company  having  contracted  to  plant  and 
cultivate  a  certain  number  of  thousands  of  coffee  and  rub- 
ber trees  and  turn  the  plantation  over  to  the  purchaser  at 
the  end  of  live  years  in  good  bearing  condition. 

This  proposition  solved  the  difficulty  of  many  Americans 
having  limited  means,  who  sought  to  have  a  profitable  in- 
vestment in  that  country,  and  yet  preferred  not.  to  go  there 
and  remain  the  tive  years  necessary  to  develop  a  coffee  ami 
rubber  plantation.  These  development  contracts  are  now 
Hearing  completion.  Every  investor,  without  exception,  is 
satisfied  with  his  investment,  many  of  them  writing  that 
till'  promises  made  of  enormous  returns  will  be  more  than 
fulfilled.  We  have  therefore  decided  to  offer  a  specially 
advantageous  investment  by  opening  up  our  T'bero  planta- 
tion on  the  development  plan.  This  plantation  is  situated 
on  the  Isthmus  Railroad  and  at  its  very  center,  where  every 
advantage  that  civilization  offers  in  railroad  connections, 
telegraph,  postoffice  and  all  the  accompaniments  of  the  in- 
dustrial life  of  our  own  country  may  be  had. 

We  present  this  pamphlet  for  your  consideration,  for 
every  statement  herein  made  can  be  verified.  The  practi- 
cal man  in  the  planting  and  development  of  the  plantation 
above  referred  to  is  in  charge  at  I'bero  plantation,  and  the 
estimates  on  the  products  of  the  soil  will  be  fully  realixed 
by  our  investors. 

The  opening  up  of  the  Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec  offers  the 

13 


last  opportunity  for  great  agricultural  investment  on  our 
continent.  This  strip  of  territory,  which  is  only  some 
t  \vcnty  miles  wide  in  the  section  that  Nature  has  adapted 
for  coffee  and  rubber  culture,  and  which  does  not  alto- 
gether contain  as  much  land  as  four  average  counties  in 
Indiana,  will  soon  l>e  taken  up.  Out  of  its  remarkable  soil, 
with  its  matchless  climate,  great  fortunes  are  now  being 
reaped  and  still  greater  ones  lie  in  its  bosom  awaiting 
only  the  touch  of  the  planter  to  come  forth.  The  native 
coll'ec.  and  rubber,  and  pineapple,  and  orange,  that  have 
bloomed  and  ripened  and  fallen  ungathered.  are  passing 
into  the  control  of  far-sighted  Americans.  The  Isthmus  of 
Panama,  seven  hundred  miles  farther  south,  with  its  tin- 
fortunate  Be  Lessep's  canal  and  its  deadly  miasmas,  will, 
in  time,  be  forsaken,  and  the  Isthmus  of  Tehnantepec.  so 
much  in  touch  with  American  life  and  peopled  by  Ameri- 
cans, will  become  the  highway  between  the  Atlantic  and 
the  Pact  lie. 


14 


Tfstbmus  of 
Zlebuantepec... 


The  part  of  Mexico  thnt  offers  the  most  :illr;iction  to 
the  intending  investor  by  reason  of  its  soil,  climate,  loca- 
tiou  and  ireneral  desirability,  is  the  Isthmus  of  Tehuan- 
tepee. 

It  is  a  strip  of  land  only  about  17<>  miles  in  width,  which 
separates  the  (Jnlf  of  Mexico  from  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and 
comprises  the  southern  portions  of  the  States  of  Oaxaca 
and  Yera  Crux,  and  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  of 
Chiapas. 

The  delightful  climatic  conditions  that  are  found  on  the 
Isthmus  of  Telmantepec  are  due  mainly  to  its  peculiar  lo- 
cation and  topography.  It  lies  a  narrow  strip  of  land  be- 
tween two  irreat  iicrans.  mid  the  mountain  chain  that 
extends  the  lensrth  of  the  American  continents  is  here  de- 
pressed to  its  lowest  altitude,  thus  itermittin.tr  a  free  cir- 
culation of  the  ocean  breezes  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific, 
which  ln-intf  a  pure  healthful  atmosphere  and  an  abundance 
of  moisture  which  is  condensed  and  falls  in  well  distributed 
rains  ami  copious  dews. 

As  the  Rocky  Mountain  rantre  that  forms  the  backbone 
of  the  Isthmus  lies  very  near  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  that 
water-shed  is  narrow  and  steep  and  its  rivers  are  short 
and  rapid. 

The  (Julf  water-shed  beirins  about  half  way  between  the 
center  of  the  Isthmus  and  the  Pacific  Ocean,  at  the  stim- 

15 


mit  of  the  mountain  range  where  innumerable  little  streams 
find  their  source,  and  flow  down  through  rock-walled 
canons,  out  around  the  foothills  of  the  central  section 
where  they  unite  and  form  the  river  Coatzacoalcos.  that 
rolls,  a  great  majestic  waterway,  through  the  plains  of  the 
Gulf  section  and  pours  its  waters  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
at  the  port  of  Coatzacoalcos. 

Of  this  special  section,  Prescott,  in  his  "Conquest  of 
Mexico,"  says: 

"During  the  first  day,  Cortez's  road  lay  through  the 
'Tierra  Caliente,'  the  land  that  had  been  so  long  waiting 
the  hand  of  the  tiller;  the  land  of  the  vanilla,  cochineal, 
cacao,  then  afterwards  of  the  orange,  the  sugar  cane,  and 
coffee — products  which,  indigenous  to  .Mexico,  have  now 
become  the  luxuries  of  Europe;  the  land  where  the  fruits 
and  the  flowers  chase  one  another  in  unbroken  circle 
through  the  year;  where  the  gales  are  loaded  with  perfume 
till  the  senses  ache  at  their  sweetness,  and  the  groves 
are  tilled  with  many  colored  birds  and  insects,  whose  en- 
ameled wings  glisten  like  diamonds  in  the  bright  sun  of 
the  tropics.  Such  are  the  magical  splendors  of  this  para- 
dise of  the  senses." 

Eighty-five  miles  from  the  Gulf  port  of  Coat/acoalcos. 
and  the  same  distance  from  the  Pacific  Ocean  port  of  Sa- 
lina  Cruz,  is  located  the  "La  Puerta  Estate,"  of  which  our 
property  is  a  part. 

"La  Puerta"  idoorway).  being  situated  at  the  base  of  the 
Oaxaca  branch  of  the  Sierra.  Madre  range,  comprises  the 
foothills,  which  by  their  undulations  form  a  series  of  small 
slopes  separated  here  and  there  by  numerous  streams. 
among  them  the  Quince  Millas.  Doce  Millas  and  I'bero.  t  In- 
most fertile  region  at  the  head  of  the  Nile  of  Mexico. 

16 


From  the  river  .Tumuapa.  the  country  ascends  on  a  grad 
ual  rise  to  the  northwest,  thereby  affording  excellent  drain 
a  .ire  and  rendering  every  inch  of  the  tract  suitable  for  cul- 

t  i vat  ion. 


IRailroafc... 


in  is.'iii  n  scientific  c(iininission  under  the  direction  of  Maj. 
.1.  <;.  llarnard.  U.  S.  Engineer,  surveyed  the  Isthmus  to 
inquire  into  the  feasibility  of  a  ship  railway  to  connect 
tlu-  <iulf  and  Pacific  Ocean,  as  proposed  by  lOads.  Later 
the  .Mexican  government,  realizing  the  importance  of  such 
a  route,  built  the  National  Tehuantepec  Railroad,  a  stand- 
ard gauge  railroad  which  crosses  the  Isthmus  on  this  lino, 
connecting  the  port  of  Coat/.acoalcos  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
with  the  port  of  Salina  Cruz  on  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

The  road  passes  directly  through  our  tract,  thus  afford- 
ing direct  communication  with  the  ports  of  the  Atlantic 
and  I'acitic  seaboards,  and  placing  the  products  of  our 
plantations  at  the  very  doors  of  the  great  markets  of  the 
world. 

Another  means  of  transportation  is  furnished  by  the 
Jumna  pa  river,  that  skirts  the  sides  of  the  tract  and 
empties  into  the  Coatzacoalcos  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
the  land.  This  river  is  an  important  tributary  of  the 
( 'oat/.acoalcos.  that  magnificent  waterway  that  flows  into 
the  <Julf  of  Mexico  at  the  port  of  ( 'oat/.acoalcos.  where  it 
forms  the  harbor  of  that  enterprising  seaport.  River 
steamboats  can  ascend  this  river  and  lie  along  the  banks. 

IBERO  STATION,  located  on  the  Company's  laud,  is  another 
important  feature.  It  is  the  end  of  the  Gulf  division. 


where  the  railroad  has  just  completed  some  forty  houses 
for  its  employes.  All  passenger  and  freight  trains  stop 
at  this  station. 

TELEGRAPH  SERVICE.  The  Federal  Telegraph  and  Central 
and  South  America  cable  from  Galveston  run  their  wires 
directly  through  our  lands,  thus  affording  direct  communi- 
cation with  the  whole  world. 

POST  Off  ICE  and  EXPRESS  OFFICE  are  already  established  at 

the  Company's  Station. 

FREIGHT"RATES  are  established  by  the  government,  and  are 
much  lower  than  in  the  States,  the  through  rate  from  our 
plantations  to  New  York  being  50  cents  per  one  hundred 
pounds. 


Before  purchasing  our  lands  a  thorough  inspection  was 
made  of  all  the  tropical  districts,  our  Messrs.  <>\\ni  .-md 
Torres  having  spent  considerable  time  in  the  Republic  look- 
ing for  a  suitable  tract,  one  that  would  combine  all  the 
necessary  requirements  of  Soil,  Climate.  Uainfall.  Trans- 
portation and  Labor  simply. 

All  these  were  found  at  Ubero,  the  northern  section  of 
the  La  Puerta  estate,  which  we  purchased. 

This  tract  is  easily  accessible  from  any  part  of  the  world 
by  means  of  the  port  of  Coatzacoalcos  on  the  Culf.  and 
Salina  Cruz  on  the  Pacific  side,  and  thence  by  the  Tehuan- 
tepcc  Railway  to  the  Station  of  Ubero;  also  by  boat  from 
Coat/acoalcos  up  the  river  of  the  same  name,  ;md  the 
.Tumuapa. 

18 


Climate... 


Of  The  climate,  what  shall  we  say?  Or.  rather,  what  may 
we  not  say?  Not  in  our  own  fair  California;  not  in  tropi- 
cal Florida;  not  in  sunny  Italy,  so  noted  for  ils  bright  skies 
and  mellow  atmosphere;  not  in  the  wide  world  has  it  a 
rival  to  fear  by  any  just  method  of  comparison.  So  slight 
and  so  gradual  are  its  changes,  so  conducive  to  good  health 
and  a  ripe  old  age  are  its  controlling  characteristics,  so 
tempting  and  gratifying  are  its  smiles,  that  to  enter  its 
presence  is  to  become  a  slave  to  its  charms,  ti>  wish  that 
its  domains  might  embrace  the  broad  universe. 

From  the  mountains,  which  are  always  clothed  in  the 
freshest  ;ind  greenest  verdure,  and  which  are  never  beyond 
the  easy  range  of  human  vision,  there  descend  into  the 
warmer  plains  and  valleys  reclining  at  their  feet  as  if  pa- 
tiently awaiting  anticipated  favors,  the  softest,  most  grate- 
ful breezes  and  most  refreshing  rains. 


Soil 


The  soil  along  the  bottoms  is  composed  of  alluvial  de- 
posits and  on  other  sections  of  the  tract,  of  a  yellow  loam, 
which  has  been  enriched  by  decayed  vegetable  matter  until 
it  has  become  dark,  intermixed  with  a  little  linie  and  small 
stone,  friable,  containing  much  organic  matter  in  combina- 
tion with  other  fertilizing  substances.  The  general  depth 
is  from  five  to  fifteen  feet:  the  hillsides  having  a  gentle 
slope  and  covered  with  rich  undergrowth,  obviate  all  possi- 
bility of  wash  or  land  slips,  a  most  important  consideration 
in  profitable  tropical  cultivation. 

19 


temperature .. 

Owing  to  the  peculiar  configuration  of  tin-  country  and 
the  depression  of  the  Sierra  .M:nlre  range  at  this  point. 
forming  a  gap,  the  temperature  is  nnicli  lower  here  than 
is  generally  supposed.  This  is  caused  by  the  cold  air  cur- 
rents, principally  from  the  Gulf,  and  at  times  from  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  which  blow  the  greater  part  of  the  day 
and  night.  The  temperature  averages  from  74  to  7S  de- 
grees, the  maximum  is  rarely  98  degrees,  and  the  minimum 
."•"'..  Frost  has  never  been  known  on  the  Isthmus,  nor  have 
the  surrounding  mountain  peaks  ever  had  any  snow  upon 
them;  even  the  nights  are  cool  and  bracing,  and  while  it  is 
hot  in  the  sun,  it  is  always  cool  in  the  shade.  The  tem- 
perature here  is  as  agreeable  as  in  other  localities  at  eleva- 
tions of  two  to  three  thousand  feet  above  sea  level. 

IKealtb... 

It  may  be  presumed  that  from  the  geographical  i>osition 
of  the  country,  the  climate  must  be  unhealthful;  but  princi- 
pally on  account  of  its  peculiar  topography,  its  climatic 
conditions  are  salubrious.  Yellow  fever,  black  vomit  and 
other  endemic  diseases  are  entirely  unknown.  The  robust 
and  healthy  condition  of  both  foreigners  and  natives,  even 
on  the  coast,  attest  the  salubrity  of  this  wonderful  region. 

TRatnfall,.,. 

The  position  of  the  Isthmus,  catching  as  it  docs  the 
moisture-laden  breezes  from  both  the  Pacific  and  Atlantic 
Oceans,  and  the  mountainous  character  of  the  middle  and 

20 


southern  section  of  it,  insure  an  abundant  and  steady 
supply  of  rain.  From  May  until  the  beginning  of  July 
there  are  light  rains;  from  July  until  the  latter  part  of 
October,  very  heavy  rains:  beginning  of  November  to  Feb- 
ruary, light  showers;  March.  April  and  part  of  May  being 
warm,  dry  weather.  The  rainy  season  on  this  section  of 
the  Isthmus  can  always  be  relied  upon  with  great  regu- 
larity, which,  with  the  rivers  and  their  tributaries  and  the 
heavy  dews  in  the  dry  season,  furnish  an  abundance  of 
moisture,  rendering  irrigation  entirely  unnecessary.  The 
average  rainfall  is  100  inches  and  the  prevailing  wind  is 
from  the  north. 


Taxes  are  exceedingly  light,  very  much  lower  than  they 
are  in  the  United  States,  and  are  only  upon  improved 
property. 

In  the  Arena,  volume  1(5.  page  49  (the  monthly  issue  of 
June,  189<j),  is  an  ably  written  article  by  Jiistice  "Walter 
Clark.  LL.  D..  entitled  "The  Land  of  the  Noon-Day  Sun." 
Concerning  land  taxes  in  .Mexico,  Mr.  Clark  says: 

"Another  bad  feature  in  the  Mexican  economic  system  is, 
that  land  pays  a  very  light  tax.  In  some  States  perhaps 
none,  and  in  all,  very  much  less  than  its  fair  share.  As  a 
rule  unimproved  land  pays  no  tax  whatever,  with  a  result 
that  land  is  held  in  large  tracts." 


TTitle 


The  title  to  our  property  is  perfect,  having  passed  direct 
from  an  old  estate  and  been  ratified  by  the  Mexican  gov- 
ernment. The  examinations  were  conducted  and  reported 

21 


perfect  by  the  best  authorities  in  Mexico.  Lie.  Y.  Sepul- 
vetla.  lirst  secretary  of  the  American  Legation  under  Presi- 
dent Cleveland,  and  a  lawyer  of  in-oniiuence;  Lie.  Luis 
Mendez.  president  of  the  Bar  Association  of  Mexico,  one  of 
Mexico's  ablest  attorneys,  and  Lie.  Joaquln  De  Cassasus. 
an  attorney  of  note  in  land  titles  in  Mexico. 


Ifurtber  Considerations.,.. 

In  considering  the  purchase  of  a  plantation  for  the  culti- 
vation of  rubber,  coffee,  tobacco  and  other  tropical  fruits. 
the  question  which  sooner  or  later  arises  is: 

Where  can  we  get  a  suitable  man  to  care  for  our  planta- 
tion, who  thoroughly  understands  his  occupation? 

It  is  essential  that  a  plantation  be  cared  for  by  a  thor- 
ough agriculturist,  who  understands  his  work  and  thor- 
oughly understands  the  labor  in  the  localtity  of  the  planta- 
tion in  which  he  is  located,  and  how  to  manage  this  labor 
with  the  least  friction  and  at  the  least  cost,  and  so  n--  t,> 
bring  the  greatest  returns  to  tin-  planter.  This  is  just  as 
necessary  as  the  selection  of  fertile  soil,  healthful  climate. 
perfect  title  and  quick  transportation  facilities. 

In  this  the  company  is  exceptionally  well  titled,  as  all  out- 
work will  be  under  the  personal  supervision  of  our  Mr. 
F.  L.  Torres,  who  for  the  past  five  vent's  lias  been  in  charge 
of  some  of  the  largest  rubber  and  coffee  plantations  on  the 
Isthmus,  working  several  hundred  lalvorers.  He  is  ihor- 
oughly  conversant  with  tropical  agriculture,  having  de- 
voted the  past  nine  years  to  its  study  in  Mexico:  is  a 
thorough  Spanish  scholar,  as  well  as  speaking  in  the  old 
Aztec  tongues  still  retained  by  the  Indian  laborers. 

22 


F.   L.TORRES  INSPECTING  RUBBER  TREE  ONE  YEAR  FROM   NURSERY. 


tlropic's 


Best  (3ifts.... 

tRubber  ..... 

The  rubber  tree  (Castillo;!  elasiica  of  Cervantes,  olqua- 
(|uitl  of  the  Aztecs,  liule  of  the  Spaniards)  is  indigenous  to 
Mexico,  and  is  found  growing  wild  principally  by  the  river 
meadows.  The  tree  is  a  hardy  one  and  noihin.tr  affects 
it.  not  even  parasites  or  animals. 

Scarcely  has  any  article  of  commerce  so  rapidly  increased 
in  demand  in  the  past  few  years  as  has  this  staple. 

So  universal  has  become  the  list'  of  rubber-tired  bicycles, 
electrical  appliances,  motor  cars.  etc..  thai  factories  have 
sprung  up  in  large  numbers  in  Kngland  and  in  the  United 
Stales,  and  the  fields  of  the  Ama/on  and  the  forests  of 
Africa  have  been  drained  to  their  utmost  in  vain  in  search 
for  an  adequate  supply  of  rubber  to  meet  tli'e  ever-growing 
demand  of  the  new  uses  to  which  it  has  been  put. 

Mo<t  of  the  rubber  for  years  has  been  obtained  from  the 
fields  of  the  A  ma/on  by  cutting  down  the  tree,  thus  ruin- 
ing forever  the  possibility  of  more  than  one  crop  from  the 
tree  tapped.  So  great  has  been  this  destruction  thai  it  now 
takes  from  live  to  six  months  to  transport  the  remaining 
rubber  from  the  Amazon  forests  to  the  seaports.  These 
South  American  rubber  forests  are  unhealthy,  and  while 
planters  have  never  been  able  to  successfully  withstand 
the  climate. 

The  Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec.  Mexico,  lias  a  healthful  cli- 
mate. and  Americans  and  Englishmen  enjoy  living  there: 


at  the  same  time  the  decaying  mould  of  centuries  of  vege- 
tation, the  regular  rainfall,  and  continual  warm  sun  have 
brought  about  the  conditions  of  a  veritable  greenhouse,  and 
here  the  rubber  tree  grows  wild  in  great  luxuriance,  and 
here  for  many  years  by  chopping  down  the  trees  or  tapping 
them  in  their  crude  way.  Indians  have  furnished  consid- 
erable rubber  for  the  New  York  markets.  Energetic  Amer- 
icans and  Englishmen  have  found  that,  as  in  all  other  wild 
fruits,  a  better  quality  can  be  obtained  by  cultivation,  until 
at  present  there  are  several  very  large,  highly  cultivated 
rubber  plantations  in  the  Isthmus. 


Coffee 


The  history  of  coffee,  while  not  generally  known,  is  very 
interesting.  Its  original  home  is  supposed  to  have  been  in 
I'pper  Ethiopia,  from  whence  it  was  introduced  into  Abys- 
sinia as  early  as  A.  I).  875.  Its  cultivation  was  imroduced 
by  the  Dutch  into  Java,  in  lii'.Ht,  and  as  a.  rare  plant  into 
the  Botanical  (Jardens  of  Amsterdam,  which  in  time  bore 
fruit.  The  French  King,  Louis  XIV,  having  been  pre- 
sented by  the  magistrates  of  Amsterdam  with  a  line  coffee 
plant,  caused  some  sprouts  of  it  to  be  sent  to  Martinique, 
committing  its  care  to  De  Clieux,  a  French  naval  otlicer. 
The  voyage  proving  long,  the  supply  of  water  became  low. 
and  all  of  the  plants  except  one  died  from  lack  of  moisture. 
With  this  one  the  zealous  officer  divided  his  scant  allow- 
ance, bringing  it  safely  to  port,  where  it  afterwards  nour- 
ished. From  this  one  tree,  it  is  said,  the  American  tropical 
colonies  obtained  their  seed,  and  from  it  was  produced 
the  numerous  varieties  now  to  be  found  on  the  American 
continent. 

26 


u 

COFFEE  TREE,   FIRST  BEARING. 


Of  the  few  countries  where  it  grows,  the  ninny  advan- 
tages \vliicli  tlie  Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec,  Mexico,  has  over 
the  others  in  the  \vn.v  of  climate,  nearness  to  market,  niul 
cheapness  of  labor  and  great  fertility  of  soil  are  making  her 
rapidly  become  the  greatest  coffee-producing  country  in  the 
world.  Consequently  many  line  plantations  are  coming  into 
bearing  in  tropical  Mexico,  and  the  stranger,  viewing  for 
the  first  time  her  large  and  thrifty  plantations,  is  struck 
with  wonder  at  the  amount  of  her  production:  yet  it  must 
be  remembered  that  coffee  trees  do  not  live  forever.  The 
average  life  of  a  tree  is  only  twenty-five  years.  The  plan- 
tations of  other  old  coffee-producing  countries  are  becoming 
fewer  and  fewer,  as  their  trees  die  out  from  old  age  or 
worn-out  soil.  Each  year  the  multiplication  of  the  inhabi- 
tants far  exceeds  the  small  number  of  coffee  trees  planted 
on  new  plantations.  So.  as  the  inhabitants  of  Europe  and 
the  I'nited  States,  Mexico  and  other  civilized  portions  of 
the  world  increase,  in  nearly  the  same  proportion  the  con 
sumption  of  coffee  increases,  a  careful  view  of  the  situation 
Avill  show  that  it  is  impossible  to  produce  enough  coffee  to 
equal  the  demand. 

There  is  still  upon  the  Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec.  Mexico. 
a  wonderful  opportunity  for  conservative,  enterprising  men 
to  make  fortunes  in  coffee,  as  great  as  the  fortunes  which 
have  been  made  in  Guatemala.  Java  and  Ceylon,  whose 
tields  are  so  fast  becoming  useless  with  old  age  and  over- 
work. 

"When  coffee  is  in  its  normal  condition  the  Mexican  berry 
brings  between  IT  and  20  cents  per  pound.  The  average 
cost  of  producing  it  is  less  than  5  cents  per  pound,  leaving 
a  profit  of  12  or  15  cents  per  pound. 

A     medium    grade    of    washed    Isthmus   Mexican  coffee 

29 


brings  in  tin-  New  York  markets  to-day  16  cents  per  pound. 
Deducting  the  cost  of  production,  gathering,  washing,  etc., 
of  5  cents  each,  the  planter  for  his  profit  receives  11  onus 
per  pound.  In  other  words,  at  the  present  condition  of 
things,  a  profit  of  nearly  220  per  cent,  on  the  cost  of  pro- 
duction goes  to  the  planter. 

There  are  very  few  investments  in  the  States  which  can 
equal  an  investment  in  coffee  culture  in  Mexico. 

The  average  individual  in  the  United  Stairs  consumes 
about  nine  pounds  of  coffee  a  year,  while  in  parts  of  Europe 
and  Holland  as  high  as  twenty  pounds  per  year  are  con- 
sumed each.  When  \ve  take  into  consideration  the  rapid 
yearly  increase  of  the  human  race  in  civilized  coffee-con- 
suming countries,  and  the  rapid  extension  of  civili/.ation 
into  uncivilized  countries,  and  the  fact  that  for  every  tree 
planted  one  tree  dies  in  an  older  plantation,  and  that  while 
we  reasonably  expect  to  produce  from  six  to  seven  pounds 
of  coffee  per  tree,  owing  to  our  rich  soil,  favorable  climatic 
conditions  and  careful  management  of  our  plantations  ivet 
in  many  parts  of  the  mountainous  districts,  not  more  than 
from  one  to  three  pounds  per  tree  are  produced  i,  and  the 
consumption  being  from  nine  to  twenty  pounds  to  the  in- 
dividual per  annum,  we  can  readily  see  that  there  is  ,-ipt 
to  be  a  scarcity  of  coffee-producing  lands  in  the  near  future. 
consequently  an  increase  of  price,  rather  than  overproduc- 
tion of  coffee. 


30 


pineapples ... 

The  Toltecs  and  Aztecs  knew  how  to  cultivate  the  pine- 
apple, and  when  the  Spaniards  conquered  Mexico  they 
found  the  fruit  in  the  markets  of  the  towns  on  their  way 
from  Vera  Cruz  to  the  great'  Tenochtitlan. 

From  time  immemorial  the  pineapple  has  been  cultivated 
in  Mexico. 

Besides  the  fruit  being  very  delicious  and  wholesome,  a 
fine  wine  and  vinegar  are  made  of  the  juice.  The  leaf  fur- 
nishes a  fiber  of  extraordinary  strength  and  fineness,  mak- 
ing it  even  more  valuable  than  the  fruit.  The  fiber  is  made 
into  ropes,  cables,  binding  twine,  thread,  mats,  bagging, 
hammocks  and  paper.  A  pineapple  rope  3%  inches  thick 
can  support  nearly  three  tons.  A  textile  fabric  as  fine  and 
beautiful  as  silk  is  made  of  this  fiber,  too.  It  is  believed 
that,  the  fine  cloth  of  various  colors  used  by  the  upper 
classes  among  the  Aztecs  was  made  of  the  pineapple  fiber. 

The  "Esmeralda"  and  "Verde  Madura1'  pineapples  grown 
on  the  Isthmus  are  the  finest  known  to  the  world,  averaging 
seven  pounds,  with  a  small  core  and  no  fiber,  and  as  they 
will  come  into  market  in  the  United  States  two  months 
earlier  than  the  Florida  product,  we  feel  that  we  are  fully 
justified  in  expecting  a  net  profit  from  them  of  5  cents 
each. 


31 


Bananas... 


The  first  l>;in;in:i  was  brought  into  America  by  a  Domin- 
ican, in  l">Ki,  from  the  Canaries  to  Haiti,  from  whence  it 
was  transplanted  to  the  Continent,  but  the  plantain  is  in- 
digenous to  tropical  America,  and  was  cultivated  by  the 
aboriginal  inhabitants  long  before  the  coming  of  Columbus. 
Before  the  Spanish  conquest,  the  latter,  besides  corn.  Chili 
pepper  and  potatoes,  formed  the  Mexican  staple  article  of 
diet. 

Some  fifteen  varieties  grow  in  this  region  and  yield  enor- 
mous crops. 

During  the  past  few  years  large  quantities  of  this  fruit 
have  been  brought  by  manufacturers  and  ground  into  flour, 
which  for  pastry  is  far  superior  to  that  made  from  wheat. 

Planters  of  Honduras  and  Nicaragua  have  in  past  years 
made  immense  fortunes  in  bananas.  With  a  quality  of 
fruit  in  every  way  equal,  if  not  superior,  we  are  more  than 
able  to  compete  with  them,  due  to  our  exceptional  trans- 
portation facilities. 


©ranges.... 


It  is  generally  supposed  that  the  Spaniards  introduced 
several  varieties  of  fruit  trees  into  this  country,  among 
them,  perhaps,  the  sweet  orange.  Yet,  if  one  has  trav- 
eled much  in  Mexico,  after  seeing  the  numerous  forests 
of  wild  oranges,  he  inclines  to  the  theory  that  the  "an- 
cients" knew  of  this  fruit  and  that  perhaps  it  was  culti- 
vated before  the  time  of  Cortez.  However,  works  treating 
on  the  history  of  old  or  ancient  Mexico  do  not  describe 
oranges. 

32 


Owing  1o  the  injury  to  the  orange  trees  in  the  I'niied 
States  from  frost,  the  supply  has  been  greatly  diminished, 
and  has  proven  .Mexico's  golden  opportunity.  The  orange 
season  of  .Mexico  is  from  the  latter  part  of  September  to 
the  first  of  December,  thus  lining  in  between  Florida  and 
California,  and  making  .Mexico  absolute  in  its  season,  and 
with  practically  no  competition  in  its  market. 

The  .Mexican  orange  is  juicy  and  very  sweet,  especially 
those  grown  on  the  gulf  side.  A  tree,  well  cared  for.  will 
produce  1,000  oranges  to  the  tree.  The  orange  shipment 
to  the  I'nited  States  from  the  Republic  last  year  was  C_T. 
carloads,  and  experts  report  that  this  year  it  will  increase 
at  least  one-third. 


Xemons.... 


Lemons  are  a  sure  crop.  The  Isthmus  is  their  natural 
home.  The  lemon  was  known  to  the  Aztecs  long  before 
Columbus  discovered  America.  They  are  found  growing 
"wild"  on  our  land. 


tlobacco.... 


Tobacco  is  indigenous  to  Mexico,  the  product  rivaling  that 
of  Cuba.  Regions  have  long  been  celebrated  for  their  to- 
bacco, and  have  yielded  large  revenues  to  the  viceroys  and 
rulers  of  Mexico  for  centuries  past.  Mexican  tobacco  has 
a  flavor  and  body  that  is  appreciated  by  experienced 
smokers,  and  is  noted  for  its  extremely  fine  quality,  and  is 
much  sought  after  by  foreigners.  Tobacco  can  be  har- 
vested six  months  after  planting. 

33 


Experts  differ  widely  as  to  the  net  profits  of  tobacco  cul- 
ture, their  estimates  ranging  from  $400  to  $1.000  per  acre. 
The  best  grade  of  Mexican  tobacco  is  rapidly  taking  the 
place  of  the  best  Cuban,  and  large  quantities  are  sold  annu- 
ally in  the  United  Stales  and  Europe  as  Havana  tobacco. 
On  the  Isthmus  it  is  harvested  six  months  after  planting. 
and  yields  1,500  to  2,000  pounds  per  acre.  In  the  "Cultiva- 
tion of  Tobacco  in  Mexico,"  by  Lewis  Le  June.  :i  work  pub- 
lished by  the  Department  of  Fomento.  the  author  says: 

"The  chemical  analysis  made  by  Mr.  Eugene  Schivt/.. 
engineer  of  the  French  Government,  has  proved  that  in  the 
States  of  Vera  Cruz  and  Oaxaca.  especially  in  the  Isthmus 
of  Tehuantepec.  there  exists  alluvial  lands  similar  to  those 
of  Sumidero,  San  Louis,  San  Juan  and  Martinez:  that  is  to 
say.  the  best  tobacco  lands  in  the  world." 


Danilla.... 


At  the  time  of  the  conquest  of  Mexico  the  Aztecs  used 
vanilla  to  flavor  their  chocolate,  and  from  them  the  Span- 
iards learned  its  use  and  introduced  it  into  Europe. 

The  plant  is  a  native  of  Southern  Mexico,  where  the 
finest  and  most  perfect  pods  are  produced.  It  belongs  to 
the  orchid  family,  has  a  pulpy  stem  which  grows  several 
yards  in  length,  attaches  itself  to  trees,  and  appears  to  be 
but  little  dependent  on  the  soil  for  nourishment. 

Finest  Quality.— The  fruit  pod  is  from  six  to  twelve 
inches  long  and  about  half  an  inch  in  diameter  at  its  thick- 
est part,  dark  green  in  its  earliest  stages  and  yellow  when 
finally  ripe.  When  prepared  for  market  it  becomes  re- 
duced to  a  quarter  of  Its  original  thickness,  is  black  in 

34 


color,  and  emits  a  very  agreeable  perfume.  It  begins  to 
bear  about  the  end  of  the  third  year,  and  will  yield  on  an 
average  seven  thousand  pods  to  the  acre. 


Cacao 


The  tree  that  produces  the  "food  of  the  gods"  (chocolate), 
"cacao"'  of  the  Spaniards,  is  a  native  of  Mexico. 

Long  before  the  Conquest  the  Aztecs  and  other  ancient 
Mexican  tribes  used  the  fruit  as  one  of  their  alimentary 
beverages.  They  prepared  a  drink  called  chocolatl  by  mix- 
ing the  seeds  after  having  crushed  them  on  the  metatl,  to- 
gether with  fine  corn  meal,  vanilla  ("tlilxochitl")  and  a 
species  of  spices  called  "mecaxochitl,"  and  those  that  drank 
it  were  a  picture  of  health,  preserving  handsome  and  vivid 
features  even  to  old  age.  All  nations  subjugated  under  the 
Aztec  eagle  had  to  bring,  among  other  valuables,  a  certain 
number  of  bags  of  cacao  to  the  palace  in  the  great  Ten- 
ochtitlan  as  an  annual  tribute  to  the  Emperor.  It  was 
so  highly  prized  among  the  ancient  natives  that  in  trade 
it  was  utilized  as  currency  among  the  lower  classes. 

Chocolate  was  first  introduced  into  Europe  (Spain)  by  the 
Spaniards  from  Mexico.  Portugal  followed  in  the  use  of 
it:  France  and  England  did  not  appreciate  its  full  qualities 
until  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century.  After 
the  year  1778  it  came  into  vogue  in  all  the  cities  of  Europe. 
Its  alimentary  virtues  became  more  generally  known,  and 
Doret,  a  Frenchman,  invented  a  hydraulic  machine  to 
manufacture  it  on  a  large  scale.  Since  then  all  civilized 
nations  have  consumed  this  rich  American  product  of  Mex- 
ican origin,  which  up  to  date  is  not  produced  in  sufficient 
quantities  to  meet  the  world's  consumption. 

35 


This  tree  is  found  growing  wild  on  our  lands.  In  culti- 
vating. 400  trees  can  be  planted  TO  the  a. -re.  which  produce 
two  pounds  per  tree,  and  is  worth  about  :.'<>  cents  per  pound 
at  the  plantation. 


Suoar 


The  cultivation  of  sugar  cane  is  an  important  industry 
in  the  Republic  of  Mexico,  and  no  part  of  that  country  is 
probably  better  adapted  to  its  growth  and  development 
than  the  Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec.  The  crop  is  extremely 
profitable  on  account  of  the  large  yield  and  the  comparative 
cheapness  of  its  production.  The  cane  is  planted  only 
once  in  ten  to  twelve  years  and  requires  no  irrigation. 
Some  of  the  Company's  land  is  especially  suited  to  its  cul- 
tivation. The  cane  is  very  rich  in  saccharine,  and  does  well 
from  sea  level  to  an  elevation  of  4,000  feet. 

The  yield  of  sugar  is  enormous,  reaching  as  high  as  7" 
tons  to  the  acre,  and  the  extraction  therefrom  furnishing  as 
high  as  220  jwunds  of  sugar  to  the  ton  of  cane,  ai  a  <-<>st  for 
the  best  grade  of  about  2'._.  cents  per  pound— the  entire  <-.>»i 
of  production  and  manufacture. 


jfruit 


Mexico  is  probably,  all  things  considered,  better  adapted 
to  the  growth  of  a  greater  variety  of  fruits  than  any 
other  country  on  the  globe.  On  the  high  table  lands  are 
found  most  fruits  grown  in  a  temperate  /one.  while  in  tin- 
coast  country  nearly  all  the  fruits  known  to  the  tropics 
grow  wild  in  the  forest.  Of  these,  oranges,  lemons,  limes. 

36 


b;ui;in;is.  pineapples,  gttavas.  mangoes,  cocoauuts,  graundas, 
/apote.  dates  and  ligs.  can  be  grown  on  The  Company's 
lands. 

The  cultivation  of  these  fruits  yields  a  return  which  will 
compare  favorably  \vitli  That  of  the  best  fruit  districts  of 
California  and  Florida,  with  the  advantage  of  cheaper  la- 
bor, cheaper  lands  and  immunity  from  frosts  and  drouths. 

Corn 

Corn  is  a  staple  diet  of  the  classes  in  the  republic.  The 
supply  has  never  equaled  the  demand,  and  every  year  sees 
increasing  imports  to  make  up  the  deficiency.  On  the  gulf 
slope  a  crop  of  corn  can  be  raised  every  four  months,  and 
brings  from  50  to  80  cents  per  bushel.  But  the  dry  table 
lands  and  mountainous  regions  of  the  interior  produce  but 
little  corn,  and  there  the  crop  is  very  uncertain,  owing  to 
the  hot  winds  and  lack  of  moisture. 

It  commonly  attains  a  height  of  ten  to  fifteen  feet,  and 
grows  with  such  luxuriance  that  among  the  natives  it  sel- 
dom receives  the  attention  of  cultivation.  A  stick  stuck 
in  the  ground,  a  grain  or  two  dropped  in  and  the  earth 
pushed  over  it  with  the  foot  constitutes  the  common 
method  of  planting:  and  yet  such  primitive  efforts  yield 
from  forty  to  fifty  bushels  to  the  acre. 

Uepetables... 

All  varieties  thrive  here,  and  tomatoes,  radishes,  lettuce, 
etc..  can  be  secured  from  the  garden  every  day  in  the 

year. 

37 


Game 


At  the  present  time  a  large  number  of  wild  animals  are 
found  on  this  land— deer.  tapir,  wild  hogs,  wild  turkey,  the 
royal  pheasant,  parrots,  as  well  as  monkeys,  and  a  great 
many  kinds  of  rare  birds  of  brilliant  plumage,  while  the 
river  and  streams  abound  in  fish.  Just  now.  this  is  the 
hunter's  paradise;  but  the  game  will  soon  disappear  before 
the  encroachments  of  civilization. 


timber 


Chicle  (chewing  gum),  mahogany,  cedar,  rosewood,  iron- 
wood,  lignum-vitae,  Brazil  wood,  logwood  and  many  other 
valuable  woods  are  found  on  our  lauds. 


38 


WHY? 


After  reading  our  statements  Ihus  far  you  will  probably 
ask:  Why?  It'  this  is  such  a  wonderful  country  and  so 
much  money  can  be  made  there — \\'liii,  then,  does  not  all  the 
world  rush  into  the  production  of  coffee  on  the  Isthmus  of 
Tehuaiitepec?  WhyV  l-'nr  tin1  rcri/  *UIH<'  ITHXHII  Unit  11011 
yoitrxi'lf  fin  IT  nut  ilmic  w.  Either  it  has  not  been  called  to 
your  attention,  or  you  would  prefer  to  make  less  money  and 
live  in  the  I'nited  States,  or  you  have  not  the  necessary 
capital  to  wait  five  years  for  a  return  ami  support  your- 
self meanwhile. 

But  if  you  could  secure  some  of  the  immense  profits  that 
coffee  culture  on  the  Isthmus  is  bound  to  yield,  and  could 
continue  to  live  in  the  United  States  while  the  plantation 
was  being  cared  for  and  brought  into  a  perfect  bearing 
condition,  when  you  could  migrate  to  the  land  of  the 
A/tecs  and  there  enjoy  the  easy  life  and  munificent  income 
of  a  coffee  planter:  if  you  could  do  this  without,  being  com- 
pelled immediately  to  invest  the  large  amount  of  ready  cash 
required  to  accomplish  these  results,  but  instead  could  pay 
for  it  gradually  out  of  your  income  and  at  the  same  time 
avoid  the  great  risk  taken  by  the  iii<'.r/><Ticii<T<l  planter,  the 
ixolutinii  from  society  and  the  toil  and  itrirntioii  incident  to 
the  life  of  a  pioneer,  what  then? 

The  .Mexican  Coffee  and  Rubber  Company  make  it  possi- 
ble for  you  to  own  a  plantation  on  the  most  reasonable 
terms: 

First.  Because  it  will  not  in  any  way  interfere  with  the 
working  of  our  own  plantation. 

39 


Second.  Because,  without  materially  increasing  the  cost 
or  lessening  tin-  efficiency  of  our  management,  we  can 
properly  care  for  these  other  properties  and  thereby  reduce 
the  expense  of  maintaining  our  o\vu. 

Third.  Because  it  enables  us  to  contract  at  a  smaller 
cost  a  larger  amount  of  lal»or. 

Fourth.  Because  it  will  enable  us  to  get  a  better  price 
for  our  crops:  the  larger  the  production  in  any  particular 
district,  the  more  numerous  the  buyers,  who.  as  direct  rep- 
resentatives of  big  ini]K>rters  in  New  York.  Liverpool  and 
Hamburg,  are  brought  together  at  our  very  d<K»rs  in  keen 
competition. 

Fifth.  Because  the  cost  of  hulling,  cleaning  and  milling 
our  own  crops  can  be  reduced  by  utilizing  our  plant  to 
handle  the  output  of  other  properties. 

Sixth.  Because  the  Company  can  make  a  large  and  legiti- 
mate profit  out  of  the  transaction. 

Thus  it  can  readily  be  seen  that  we  derive  many  direct 
and  indirect  advantages,  and  can  at  the  same  time  give 
the  investor  a  better  plantation  at  less  cost  than  lie  could 
possibly  secure  in  any  other  manner. 

We  state  the  above  facts  in  order  that  our  i»ositiou  may 
be  clearly  understood  and  the  proposition  we  offer  not 
looked  ni)on  as  an  experiment  for  which  others  are  asked 
to  furnish  the  funds. 

We  believe  any  sound-reasoning  person  can  readily  see 
the  mutual  advantages  to  all  parties  concerned  and  that  tin- 
interests  of  the  Company  and  its  investors  are  identical. 


40 


©ur  proposition 


Is  to  make  it  possible  for  one  of  moderate  means  to  obtain 
a  rubber,  coffee  or  tropical-fruit  plantation  of  from  twenty- 
live  ii!.">i.  fifty  ».")Hi  or  one  hundred  iluni  .-H-IVS  for  $105  per 
acre,  on  the  following  terms:  Seven  dollars  per  acre  pay- 
able at  the  time  of  purchasing.  Seven  dollars  per  acre  pay- 
able cadi  succeeding  year  for  a  term  of  four  years,  when 
the  plantation  is  to  be  turned  over  to  the  purchaser,  subject 
to  a  mortgage  ()f  jfTo  per  acre.  This  mortgage  will  be  paya- 
ble in  two  annual  payments,  without  interest,  and  due  at 
the  end  of  the  sixth  and  seventh  years  after  date  of  making 
the  contract.  The  Company  agrees  to  accept  the  products 
of  the  land  for  these  two  years  in  payment  of  the  mortgage, 
if  the  owner  so  desires. 

When  the  land  is  turned  over  to  the  purchaser  at  the  end 
of  the  fifth  year,  every  hundred  acres  shall  have  upon  it 
nil iber  trees.  .">  years  old. 
coffee  trees,  ."i  years  old, 
10,<XMi  pineapple  plants. 

H. ."><)<!  banana   plants,  all  in  a  healthy,  bearing  condi- 
tion. 

Hach  tract  of  twenty-five  or  fifty  acres  will  have  upon  it, 
respectively,  one-fourth  and  one-half  of  the  improvements 
of  the  luo-acre  tract. 

From  a  conservative  basis,  the  annual  income  from  a 
100-acre  plantation  can  be  estimated  as  follows: 

10,000  rubber  trees,  2  pounds  each,  &  50c $10,000  00 

15,000  coffee  trees,  30,000  pounds,  @  lOc 3,000  00 

10,000  pineapples,  <s  5c 500  00 

2,500  bunches  bananas,  @  lOc 250  00 

Net  total $13,750  00 

41 


Again  we  repeat  that  the  above  estimates  as  to  the  in- 
come from  these  tracts  is  in  every  way  a  conservative  one. 
While  we  have  figured  on  a  yield  of  two  pounds  of  coffee 
from  each  tree,  we  confidently  expect  live  pounds  or  more. 
for  the  reason  that  they  will  receive  from  the  very  start  the 
liest  of  care  and  lx>  given  every  advantage  in  the  way  of 
proper  soil  and  high  cultivation,  such  as  weed  in;:,  shading. 
pruning,  topping  and  other  important  and  essential  fea- 
tures. It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  you  are  not  getting 
an  ordinary  .Mexican  coffee  plantation,  but  one  laid  out  and 
cared  for  from  the  start  in  the  best  i>ossible  manner  by 
men  who  have  had  years  of  experience  in  the  business. 

The  lowest  cash  valuation  at  this  time  for  such  a  planta- 
tion would  be  $30,000,  and  it  could  readily  be  sold  at  that 
price,  and  yet  costing  the  purchaser  on  our  plan  a  cash  out- 
put of  only  s:!.."iiKi.  running  through  a  period  of  five  years. 

During  which  time  the  purchaser  is  free  from  the  annoy- 
ance and  worry  of  an  inexperienced  planter  in  attempting 
to  properly  start  his  plantation,  and  he  is  also  the  gainer 
of  the  cost  of  living,  which  would  otherwise  be  a  loss  while 
he  is  waiting  for  his  plantation  to  bear. 

If  the  purchaser  so  desires,  lie  can  largely  increase  his 
income  by  making  arrangements  with  the  Company,  so 
that  an  additional  number  of  acres  of  rubber,  coffee  trees. 
pineapples,  bananas,  vanilla,  cacao  or  oranges  can  be 
planted  and  brought  to  bearing,  whichever  seems  to  him  to 
be  of  the  most  profit.  After  the  fifth  year,  if  the  owner 
does  not  care  to  give  his  personal  supervision  to  his  plan- 
tation, the  Company  will  care  for  it  and  harvest  and  mar- 
ket his  crops  for  1<>  per  cent,  of  the  net  profit. 

The  experience  of  coffee  growers  on  the  Isthmus  has  been 
that  good,  clean  coffee  has  never  sold  for  less  than  Hi  cents 

42 


per  pound,  and  that  the  total  cost  of  caring  for.  leathering, 
cleaning,  sa.okin.n-.  freighting  and  other  charges  is  within  5 
cents,  so  \ve  liave  a  handsome  margin  for  any  contingency 
which  could  arise. 

Only  two  pounds  of  coffee  have  1 11  counted  upon  to 

the  tree,  but  with  our  trees  started  in  a  nursery  and  at- 
tended to  from  small  plants  up.  with  watchful  care  and 
proper  weeding,  shade  and  cultivation,  planted  at  least 
nine  feet  apart  in  virgin  soil  of  great  richness,  we  have 
every  reason  to  anticipate  six  pounds  instead  of  two  pounds 
to  the  tree. 

Rubber  usually  brings  (iO  and  7.">  cents,  instead  of  50 
cents,  and  from  two  and  a  half  to  four  and  a  half  pounds, 
instead  of  two  pounds. 

The  estimated  profit  of  the  growers  of  bananas  on  the 
Isthmus  is  2O  cents  per  bunch  net.  We  have  conservatively 
placed  our  estimate  at  10  cents  a  bunch. 

The  bananas  grown  on  the  Isthmus  are  tine,  equal  in 
every  way  to  those  of  Honduras.  Nicaragua  and  the  Ber- 
mudas, where  the  profit  averages  i>.~>  cents,  gold,  a  bunch. 
With  their  use  becoming  more  common  in  the  United 
States,  and  we  being  so  much  nearer  market,  and  with  so 
much  quicker  transportation,  it  will  not  be  amiss  to  count 
on  as  much  profit  per  bunch  from  ours  as  is  made  in  those 
countries  farther  away. 

We  have  estimated  .">  cents  for  our  pineapples.  Almost 
this  price  is  obtained  in  Florida  by  the  growers  for  their 
product.  There  is  a  difference  of  nearly  2.">  cents  in  the 
New  York  markets  in  the  price  of  their  pineapples  and 
ours.  The  Esmeralda  and  Verde  Madura  pineapples  are 
grown  to  perfection  in  this  locality,  ana  nowhere  are  they 
excelled  for  size  and  flavor. 

43 


One  thing  must  not  be  forgotten.  The  investor  will  not 
be  situated  in  some  mountainous  wilderness,  where  In-  is 
:iw:iy  from  all  connection  with  the  world.  depending  upon 
the  expensive  and  unsatisfactory  method  of  carrying  his 
produce  to  market  on  the  backs  of  burros:  neither  is  lie  at 
some  isolated  point,  at  the  head  of  some  river,  where  lie 
must  wait  until  the  river  is  high  until  he  can  get  his  prod- 
ucts to  market,  but  lie  is  right  upon  a  railroad  and  a  river. 
with  two  means  of  reaching  the  boats  at  Coat/.acoalcos. 
which  are  bound  for  New  York.  New  Orleans  and  London. 
and  with  exceedingly  quick  means  and  low  rates  of  trans- 
portation to  these  points. 

We  have  telegraph  lines  at  our  doors  connecting  us  with 
all  parts  of  the  world,  thus  enabling  us  to  obtain  quick  re 
ports  of  the  market  prices  in  New  York,  Ixmdon  and  New 
Orleans  before  shipping  our  goods. 

The  Company's  experience,  together  with  the  production* 
of  other  plantations  in  their  vicinity,  has  warranted  them 
in  agreeing  to  accept  the  crop  from  off  the  land  in  payment 
of  the  mortgage,  and  this  fact,  together  with  the  bond  they 
execute  for  the  faithful  performance  and  carrying  out  of 
their  contract,  is  evidence  of  their  good  faith  and  of  the 
absolute  confidence  they  have  in  the  ability  of  this  land  to 
more  than  realize  the  income  counted  upon. 


44 


iRubber 


In  IX!  )2  the  I'.ritish  minister  to  .Mexico.  8ir  Henry  Neville 
I>ering.  in  a  report  to  Parliament  on  the  subjects  of  general 
and  coinniercial  interest  in  Mexico,  which  report  was  is- 
sued during  the  recess  ainl  in-esenied  to  both  Houses  of 
Parliament  by  command  of  her  Majesty,  said  of  rubber: 

"The  rubber  tree  (Castilloa  elastica  of  Cervantes,  olqua- 
(luital  of  the  Aztecs,  hule  of  the  Spanish)  is  indigenous  to 
Mexico,  and  is  found  growing  wild  along  both  coasts,  be- 
low L"_'  degrees  north  latitude,  from  sea  level  to  altitudes 
running  from  12,000  to  15,000  feet,  and  principally  by  the 
river  meadows.  *  *  * 

"The  lin'.e  tree  belongs  to  Urticaceae.  grows  wild  from  45 
in  r.d  feet  high,  and  has  branches  only  at  its  upper  section. 
Has  smooth  yellow  bark:  its  leaves  are  six  to  ten  inches 
long,  oval,  oblong,  entire,  thick,  smooth,  bright  green  and 
glossy  above.  *  *  * 

"The  best  soil  for  rubber  cultivation  is  a  deep,  rich  loam, 
such  as  ,is  found  along  the  alluvial  banks.  *  *  * 

"Trees  planted  with  soil,  climate  and  elevation  adapted 
for  the  culture  would  produce  from  five  to  six  pounds  of 
juice  the  first  year  they  are  tapped,  which  amount  is  equiv- 
alent to  two  and  four-tenths  pounds  of  rubber.  This  prod- 
uct will  gradually  increase  for  the  next  four  or  five  years, 
and  sells  for  50  cents  per  pound  on  the  plantation.  *  *  * 

-Thus  240,000  pounds,  the  yield  of  100,000  trees  at  the 
first  year's  harvest,  will  bring  the  planter  $120.000.  besides 
the  profit  obtained  for  corn,  vanilla  beans,  cacao  and  ba- 
nanas raised  from  side  planting.  *  *  * 

4.-, 


"The  in-t  profit  on  the  investment,  after  deducting  the 
entire  cost  of  the  land  and  all  expenses  up  to  tin-  first  year's 
harvest,  will  be  $!'»5,0<X1.  and  each  of  the  succeeding  har- 
vests for  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  will  bring  a  steady 
income  of  over  SKMI.OIMI. 

"Mexico  affords  excellent  op]>ortunites  for  the  develop- 
ment of  this  admittedly  profitable  trade.  *  *  * 

"It  will  be  evident,  from  what  has  been  stattMl  above,  thai 
the  comparatively  small  output  of  India  rubber  which  Mex- 
ico lias  so  far  been  able  to  achieve  may  easily  be  very 
largely  increased  by  improved  facilities,  if  they  were  pro- 
vided, and  by  the  introduction  of  British  capital  and  en- 
terprise into  a  field  which  has  hitherto  been  quite  imper- 
fectly developed.  The  India  rubber  trade  of  Mexico,  in 
fact,  resembles  other  industries  of  that  republic,  in  that  it 
is  really  in  a  condition  of  infancy  at  present,  and  no  or- 
ganized efforts  have  been  made  to  work  it  for  what  it  is 
undoubtedly  worth.  It  is  hardly  neces>ary  to  point  out 
that  in  all  matters  of  this  kind,  where  the  development 
of  the  native  resources  has  to  be  vigorously  carried  on.  the 
Mexican  government  may  be  relied  upon  to  give  every 
assistance  and  facility.  Mexico,  by  her  enlightened  policy 
and  the  honorable  manner  in  which,  through  a  time  of 
great  financial  stress,  she  punctually  fulfilled  all  her  obli- 
gations, has  placed  herself  at  the  head  of  the  group  of 
republics  which  are  popularly,  if  not  with  strict  geographi- 
cal accuracy,  referred  to  as  South  America:  and  it  is  the 
gratifying  position  of  enterprises  which  have  to  depend 
upon  Mexican  productions  for  their  prolits  that  they  are  not 
hampered  or  persecuted  by  the  government,  as  is  the  case 
in  the  Argentine  Republic  and  Brazil.  It  may  be  taken 
for  granted  that  the  Mexican  government  is  fully  alive  to 

46 


the  advantage,  especially  at  the  present  juncture,  to  be  ob- 
tained from  the  development  of  the  rubber  plantations  of 
the  country.  The  excellent  promise  of  these  plantations 
ought,  as  affording  an  unusual  opportunity  for  the  erection 
of  an  additional  barrier  against  the  failure  of  the  world's 
supply,  to  be  a  matter  of  congratulation  to  the  thousands 
who  in  this  country  are  in  various  ways  and  in  different 
decrees  interested  in  the  unrestrained  development  of  the 
cycling  and  kindred  industries." 

^Extract  from  tbe  ^financial  TRcvvs, 
of  %cm&on.... 

*  *  *  ••.Manufacturers  have  been  forced  to  seriously 
consider  the  position  in  which  they  might  be  placed  were 
the  supply  of  rubber  to  be  exhausted.  The  great  cycling 
industry  of  the  country,  and  all  the  trades  more  or  less 
intimately  associated  with  it.  in  which  rubber  is  used,  are 
just  now  really  at  the  mercy  of  any  strong  combination  of 
capitalists  who  might  choose  to  purchase  the  existing  stock 
of  India  rubber  and  speculate  largely  in  the  future.  *  *  * 

"The  supply  of  raw  rubber  is.  at  best,  a  fixed  quantity. 
It  is  really  diminishing,  but  for  the  sake  of  convenience  it 
may  be  considered  as  stationary.  The  most  strenuous  en- 
deavors on  the  part  of  native  rubber  collectors  and  Eu- 
ropean and  other  traders  failed  to  increase  it  last  year, 
and  expansion  in  the  future  is  the  reverse  of  hopeful.  It  is 
true  that  a  contrary  belief,  based  on  the  imports  to  the 
United  Kingdom,  prevails  in  certain  quarters:  but  those 
who  maintain  that,  the  output  of  'wild'  rubber  increased 
last  year  have  not  carefully  studied  the  statistics.  \\V 

47 


certainly  imported  89,021  cwt.  more  in  ISJM;  than  in  iv.c>: 
but  the  United  States— the  second  largest  purchaser— in 
teu  mouths  of  the  same  year  took  JS4.M21  <-\vt.  less  than  in 
lMt."i.  The  United  Kingdom  and  the  United  States  together 
import  about  s."i  per  cent,  of  the  world's  supply,  and  al- 
though other  European  countries,  notably  Belgium,  in- 
creased imiK>rts.  the  whole,  bearing  in  mind  that  the  United 
Kingdom  bought  the  bulk  of  the  Belgian  rubber  supplied 
the  United  States  with  over  r.jMMt.(MM)  pounds,  would 
scarcely  balance  the  United  States  deficit.  The  monopo- 
lists, indeed,  might  count  on  a  diminishing  output,  for  the 
destructive  methods  of  the  rubber  collectors  have  made 
an  expansion  most  improbable,  if  not  impossible.  All 
through  the  tropical  regions  they  kill  the  plants  and  trees. 
and  the  slaughter  has  at  length  reached  almost  incredible 
proportions.  Reduced  to  pounds,  our  imports  last  year 
amounted  to  48,290,388.  As  we  received  nearly  one  half  the 
world's  supply,  the  total  output  may  be  roughly  stated  at 
100.000,000  pounds.  Estimating  one  pound  of  rubber  as  the 
average  product  of  every  tree  and  plant  tapped,  it  would 
be  no  great  exaggeration  to  say  that  lou.(MMt.(MK>  trees  and 
plants  were  killed  for  their  rubber  last  year.  It  does  not 
need  expert  botanical  knowledge  to  perceive  that  such  a 
state  of  things  cannot  continue  indefinitely,  and  that  a 
rubber  famine  in  the  near  future  is  much  more  probable 
than  an  increased  output. 

"In  .March  the  stock  in  London  and  Liverpool  amounted 
to  2.184  tons,  which,  at  last  year's  average  price.  £11  IN. 
per  cwt.,  might  have  been  purchased  for  £."»<;s.»588.  The 
stock  of  Para  on  December  31,  18i)<>.  was  i.mi»  tons:  <>f 
other  sorts,  2,016  tons;  total  stock.  3.0t>5  tons,  worth,  at  the 
above  price  per  cwt.,  £711,080.  As  the  increased  demand 

48 


:in<l  rise  in  Hit-  value  of  Para  rubber  make  it  very  im- 
probable that  the  stock  of  Para  was  larger  on  March  1  than 
at,  the  end  of  last  year,  it  is  pretty  safe  to  conclude  that  a 
capital  of  £1.21!».7<')S  would  have  purchased  the  whole  of 
the  rubber  available  on  the  first  day  of  last  month.  Bear- 
ing In  mind  that  manufacturers  of  rubber  goods  must  buy 
to  execute  their  orders  and  that  the  monthly  output  of  raw 
rubber  averaged  last  year,  roughly.  :».7i»4  tons,  of  the  vahie 
of  £N7l'.7S4.  it  would  not  be  difficult  for  a  financial  expert 
to  calculate  how  much  capital  would  be  required  to  main- 
tain the  'corner'  and  realize  a  huge  profit  at  the  expense  of 
the  rubber  industry.  Assuming  that  $2,000,000  would  have 
bought  the  stock  in  hand  on  March  1  and  the  month's  out- 
put, the  calculation  is  simple  enough.  IT  will  be  evident 
that  the  situation  is  unsafe,  and  it  behooves  rubber  manu- 
facturers to  make  such  a  •corner'  impossible  by  combining 
to  grow  their  own  rubber. 

"Enough  has  been  written  lately  of  rubber  cultivation 
to  show  that  the  profits  in  Mexico  at  least  would  be  very 
great:  indeed.  800  per  cent,  on  the  capital  invested  has  been 
talked  of  as  a  possible  return  after  live  years  from  culti- 
vating Castilloa  elastica  in  the  Republic.  This  is  a  return 
which  provides  plenty  of  margin  for  contingencies. 

"Rubber  growing  is  no  longer  in  the  experimental  stage. 
as  witness  the  plantation  of  La  Esmeralda  in  Oaxaca.  Mex- 
ico, to  which  further  reference  is  made  below.  Cultivated 
India  rubber  plantations  are  few.  for  the  reason  that,  in 
SOUK-  degree,  like  the  coffee  plant,  the  India  rubber  tree 
requires  a  long  period  of  continuous  cultivation  before 
making  any  return  to  the  cultivator." 


49 


Government  TReportg.... 

Mr.  .T.  .7.  Williams,  principal  assistant  engineer  of  the 
scientific  coiniiiisslon  under  the  direction  of  Major  .1.  G. 
Harnard.  I'nited  Slates  Kngineer.  in  1xr»U,  made  a  re]»ori  of 
the  condition  of  the  Isthmus,  the  following  of  which  is  an 
extract: 

*  *  *  "The  distribution  of  plants  on  the  Isthmus  dif- 
fers from  that  of  .Mexico  in  general,  insomuch  that  the 
vegetation  of  the  loftier  table  lands  is  less  distinctly 
marked.  On  the  margins  of  the  Cult'  or  Pacific  Ocean  are 
found  the  usual  plants  of  inter-tropical  shores,  and  in  the 
middle  of  the  Isthmus  are  found  families  which  vegetate 
favorably  at  elevations  below  5.(MK)  feet  within  the  tropics. 
this  occurring  not  because  the  elevation  is  sufficient  to 
wan-ant  the  growth,  but  that  the  lower  level  of  the  Isth- 
mus is  cooled  much  below  the  average  temperature  of  its 
latitude  by  the  constant  northeast  wind,  by  the  great  hu- 
midity of  the  northern  slope  and  by  the  proximity  of  the 
lofty  table  lands  and  mountain  summits  which  CIMI!  t In- 
land in  their  vicinity. 

"The  mean  annual  temperature  of  the  Gulf  shore  of  the 
Isthmus  is  XI  degrees.  The  summer  heat  is  that  of  1'_'  de- 
grees more  northerly  in  Africa  and  Western  Asia,  and  the 
winter  heat  that  of  its  own  latit tides  even  on  large  conti- 
nents. In  other  words,  it  lias  a  cooler  summer  and  more 
moderate  winter  than  similar  latitudes,  and  it  is  this  ex- 
treme quality  of  climate  which  gives  to  these  lands  the 
beauty  and  profusion  of  vegetation  with  which  they  are 
clothed. 

"It  is  on  the  outside  of  the  limits  of  the  equatorial  zone 
and  its  productions  are  those  of  a  tropical  /one.  which  is 

50 


an  advantage  this  Isthmus  possesses  over  ;iny  point  further 
south,  lying  in  tlie  equatorial  zone. 

"Important  in  value  is  the  Aiphoani  elastica,  or  India 
rubber  tree,  which  is  found  in  astonishing  numbers 

throughout    the    forests    that    skirt   the   tributary    streams. 

*  #     * 

"In  the  production  of  fruits  and  leguminous  plants,  the 
Isthmus  perhaps  stands  unrivaled,  and  it  seems  superfluous 
to  enumerate,  even  incidentally,  the  different  varieties 
which  constitute  other  articles  of  food,  or  those  deserving 
of  a  special  culture  and  adapted  for  ptirposes  of  exporta- 
tion. Yet  many  of  them  claim  particular  notice,  either 
for  their  delicious  flavor,  abundant  growth  or  the  nutritive 
qualities  for  which  they  are  distinguished.  Among  these 
we  rind  the  ehico-xapote.  lemon-cillo,  orange,  chayote,  co- 
coanut.  lemon,  pineapple  (sometimes  reaching  the  enor- 
mous weight  of  fifteen  pounds),  melon,  mamey.  chiramoya, 
citron,  mango,  banana,  plantain,  guava  and  pomegranate. 

*  *     * 

"Of  the  maize,  frijoles.  sugar,  cocoa,  tobacco,  coffee  and 
cotton  raised  on  the  Isthmus,  it  is  difficult  to  speak  in  terms 
which  might  convey  an  adequate  idea  of  the  adaptation  of 
the  soil  and  climate  to  their  cultivation  or  the  perfection  to 
which  they  are  susceptible  of  being  brought.  *  *  * 

"But  when  we  reflect  upon  the  productiveness  of  the  soil, 
the  salubrity  of  the  climate,  and  the  boundless  character  of 
the  vegetation  of  the  Isthmus,  it  is  not  difficult  to  see  how 
great  must  be  the  reward  which  would  crown  the  efforts 
of  an  industrious  planter. 

"In  conclusion,  it  is  utterly  impossible,  even  at  a  momen- 
tary glance  like  this,  not  to  be  struck  with  the  value  of 
the  boundless  riches  which  nature  has  showered  into  the 

51 


lap  of  the  Isthmus:  nor  can  we  estimate  the  changes  to  be 
effected  or  the  bom-fits  To  result  from  their  gathering,  when 
its  soil  shall  become  an  emporium  of  commerce  and  teem 
with  wealth  and  abundance.  *  *  * 

"Kven  the  outline  which  we  have  traced  presents  but  a 
feeble  delineation  of  the  golden  harvest  which  is  to  be 
reaped  in  the  future.  Nevertheless  sufficient  has  doubtless 
In-eii  said  to  awaken  attention  to  the  natural  resources  of 
this  favored  region  and  to  show  beyond  question  the  pres- 
ent and  prospective  value  of  that  which  already  exists." 
*  *  * 

Of  the  healthful  climate  of  the  central  part  of  the  Isth- 
mus. .Mr.  Williams,  continuing  in  his  report,  says: 

"On  the  northeastern  division  of  the  Isthmus,  on  the 
Gulf  slope,  where  the  rainy  season  begins  in  the  middle  of 
June  and  terminates  in  November,  the  district  appears  i,, 
be  usually  healthy,  and  it  is  not  uncommon  to  meet  with 
natives  seventy  and  eighty  years  of  age  residing  there. 

"The  central  division  of  the  Isthmus  is  perhaps  the 
healthiest,  a  circumstance  due  to  its  elevation  and  better 
drainage." 


JEitracts  taken  from  a  TReport  to  tbe 
Tflnitefr  States  Senate 

OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  SCIENTIFIC  EXPEDITION  TO  THE  ISTHMUS  OF  TEHUANTEPFC,  COM- 
MANDED BY  CAPTAIN   R    W.  SHUFELDT,  U.S.  N.,  1872. 

"The  Isthmus  presents  every  inducement  to  foreigners  — 
thousMiids  of  acres  of  fertile  land  to  lie  ciiliivated.  in  a  con- 
genial climate,  and  no  obstacles  or  prejudices  in  the  way 
of  religious,  social  or  industrial  ideas. 

"The  soil  on  the  Atlantic  plains  is  a  rich  alluvial  deposit, 
often  twenty  feet  in  depth.  This  region  is  generally  heav- 
ily timbered,  but  occasionally  open,  grass-covered  plains 
are  met  with. 

"The  soil  is  remarkably  fertile,  and  if  cleared  and  culti- 
vated, would  yield  abundantly  all  the  agricultural  products 
adapted  to  this  latitude  and  climate. 

•Toffee  of  a  good  quality  grows  on  the  Atlantic  slope  and 
in  the  central  division.  From  what  we  saw  of  the  coffee 
tree  -rowing  in  the  woods  and  in  the  gardens,  we  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  soil  and  climate  of  the  Isthmus  are 
well  adapted  to  its  cultivation.  We  were  all  surprised  to 
find  the  coffee  of  so  fine  a  flavor.  It  is  rather  milder  than 
the  Java,  but  in  flavor  is  not  inferior. 

"The  huh-  or  India  rubber  tree  alnmnds  on  the  Atlantic 
plains.  At  the  present  time  only  a  small  quantity  of  the 
gum  is  collected,  but  owing  to  a  large  number  of  trees  in 
this  region  and  the  increasing  demand  for  this  substance, 
the  day  is  probably  not  far  distant  when  this  valuable  gum 
will  be  raised  here  in  la r. ire  quantities  for  exportation. 

"The  pineapple  is  of  good  si/e  and  fine  flavor,  and  limes 
and  lemons  are  often  seen  growing  wild. 

63 


"There  are  MS  many  as  fifteen  well-known  varieties  of  the 
banana,  sonic  of  which  are  a  very  superior  quality.  Like 
the  orange,  the  best  bananas  are  found  on  the  Atlantic 
plains  and  in  the  central  division,  and  they  are  ripe  at  all 
seasons  of  the  year. 

"Oranges  prow  in  all  parts  of  the  Isthmus,  but  those  of 
the  Atlantic  plain  and  the  central  division  are  the  best. 
On  the  Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec  there  is  no  frost  to  bli-br 
this  crop,  as  there  is  occasionally  in  Florida  and  Louisiana: 
nor  hurricanes  to  kill  it.  as  in  the  West  Indies:  nor  are  the 
northers  violent  enough  on  the  Atlatnic  plains  to  injure  it. 

"Many  of  our  garden  vegetables  grow  very  well  in  all 
parts  of  the  Isthmus.  We  saw  lettuce,  radishes,  tomatoes. 
string  beans,  beets  and  onions  growing  in  the  gardens. 

"The  climate  is  a  healthful  one.  and  it  is  the  boast  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Isthmus  that  the  yellow  fever  has  never 
visited  them. 

"The  Indians  are  found  settled  over  the  whole  Isthmus. 
They  are  of  a  mild  and  gentle  disposition,  very  muscular 
and  possess,  many  of  them,  wonderful  endurance.  In  color 
they  are  lighter  than  our  own  Indians,  their  features  are 
much  finer,  and  the  expression  of  the  face  is  more  pleas- 
ing." 


54 


Extracts  trom  a  TReport  ot  Unites  States 
Consul  General  Ubos.  3.  Gnttenfron 

To  THE  UNITED  STATES  SENATE  ON  COFFEE  CULTURE  IN  MEXICO. 

"Heretofore  Mexico  has  not  been  considered  by  our  mer- 
chants ns  an  enlarged  or  promising  field  for  coffee  pro- 
duction, because  producers  have,  not  shown  much  activity 
in  presenting  the  crop  to  the  market.  It  is  strange  to  those 
of  us  viewing  it  from  the  present  standpoint  and  acquaint- 
anceship with  the  bean,  that  the  Mexican  coffee  should 
have  remained  so  long  unknown  to.  and  unsold  in,  our  mar- 
ket. Since  the  government  of  this  country  has  passed  into 
capable  hands,  since  the  country  has  opened  its  gates  to 
all  home-seeking  people,  since  the  world  has  become  as- 
sured that  linancial  investments,  as  well  as  life  and  prop- 
erly are  safe  here.  a<  elsewhere,  and  a  large  part  of  the 
country  is  accessible  by  rail  and  water,  a  new  life,  a 
greater  stimulus,  has  been  given  to  the  production  of  all 
kinds  of  tropical  fruits,  as  well  by  those  'native  and  to  the 
manner  born'  as  by  thousands  of  foreigners  who  have  re- 
moved to  Mexico  for  agricultural  purposes.  Mexico  has 
shown  its  capacity  to  produce  the  higher  as  well  as  the 
lower  grades  of  the  berry — from  the  most  delicate  rmapan 
to  the  rougher  and  less  tasteful  grains  on  the  higher  ele- 
vations—and she  must  become  a  greater  producer  for  the 
markets  of  the  world,  shrinking  from  no  comparison  with 
the  coffee  of  Ilrax.il  and  elsewhere.  There  are  already 
many  agents  from  New  Orleans.  New  York  and  San  Fran- 
cisco and  Baltimore  located  in  the  coffee-producing  regions 
of  Mexico,  buying  larger  or  smaller  lots  for  their  employers 
in  the  I'nited  States.  *  *  * 

55 


"The  yield  of  a  tree  cultivated  in  a  suitable  locution  pro- 
duces from  two  to  four  ounces  of  merchantable  coffee  dur- 
ing the  year:  the  second  crop  yields  twice  as  much,  and  the 
third  crop,  when  it  lias  its  full  bearing,  is  double  the  yield 
of  the  previous  year,  and  runs  up  as  high  MS  1..1  pounds. 
Of  course,  this  is  a  fair  average  given,  and  in  many  fertile 
districts  of  Chiapas.  Michoacan.  Oaxaca.  Ilildago.  Ouerro 
and  Pueblo  official  reports  give  from  three  to  five  pounds 
per  tree,  in  its  full  growth,  and  from  four  years  after 
transplanting  upward. 

"The  tree  in  some  districts  lives  for  twenty  years  after 
reaching  its  full  bearing  period,  maintaining  itself  in  a 
vigorous  state  and  giving  the  same  yield;  but  experienced 
planters  assert  that  after  the  twenty- fifth  year  the  plant 
begins  to  show  symptoms  of  decay,  its  crop  decreasing 
gradually  year  after  year,  and  ceasing  altogether  after  the 
thirtieth  year. 

"Trees  planted  at  a  medium  distance  apart,  having  a  tine 
quality  of  soil,  good  care  from  the  time  of  planting,  and 
careful  attention  with  them  when  seedlings,  will  yield  a 
good  crop  at  thirty  years  of  age.  The  longevity  of  tin- 
Mexican  tree  also  greatly  depends  on  the  development  of 
the  principal  root  or  taproot,  and  consequently  on  the  depth 
to  which  it  can  penetrate  and  the  fertility  of  the  soil." 

"Special  conditions  exist  in  the  Isthmus  of  Tehuautepec, 
inasmuch  as  the  tree  can  thrive  well  there  in  places  even 
lower  than  it  is  found  in  other  sections  of  the  coffee  belt: 
evenness  of  temperature  is  also  a  very  important  factor  for 
the  successful  growth  of  the  plant  and  the  proper  maturity 
of  the  seed. 

"When  the  thermometer  marks  a  temperature  below  ."> 
degrees  F.  at  any  time  of  the  year,  the  cultivation  of  coffee 

56 


should  not  lie  attempted,  especially  with  the  .lava  and 
myrtle  kinds;  the  Mocha  c.-iu  stand  more  cool  weather,  but 
not  lower  than  •"><»  decrees.  *  *  *" 

From  Consular  Keport  to  I'liited  States  (Jovernment.  by 
James  .].  Peterson.  Tegucigalpa.  November  llth,  1893: 

"The  cost  of  raising  coffee,  after  the  plantation  is  well 
established,  will  not  reach  the  sum  of  »»  cents  (gold)  per 
pound,  including  all  expenses  of  management,  labor,  in- 
terest, wear  and  tear  of  machinery,  etc. 

"\Vith  proper  care  and  attention,  coffee  trees  will  produce 
from  '•'>  to  lo  pounds  cadi  year." 


Translation  from  French  Consular  Iteport  of  1892: 

"Mexiean  coffee  took  the  tirst  iiremium  at  the  Centennial 
Exposition  in  Philadelphia.  *  *  *  Mexican  coffees  were 
given  the  grand  prize  at  the  Paris  Exposition.  *  *  * 
They  will  take  the  highest  award  at  the  World's  Fair  in 
Chicago." 

Note.— His  prediction  has  been  verified. 

London  "Times,"  January  4th.  1894: 

"There  are  many  healthy  signs  of  commercial  and  indus- 
trial movement  in  Mexico.  *  *  *  That,  a  part  of  its  ter- 
ritory is  suitable  for  coffee  culture  is  certain.  There  can 
be  no  doubt  the  future  of  this  business  is  a  promising  one." 

57 


The  following  is  taken  from  the  London  Financial  Times: 

"It  is  impossible  to  read  the  financial  papers  of  London, 
I'aris  and  Berlin,  without  being  struck  with  the  steady 
growth  of  feeling,  that  .Mexico  is  upon  the  eve  of  a  period 
of  great  prosperity.  The  development  of  her  wonderful 
agricultural  resources  has  M!SO  iK-gun.  and  her  exportation 
of  coffee  and  other  products  of  the  soil  and  forests  is  ;is- 
suniing  very  great  proportions." 


Senor  M.  Romero.  .Mexican  Minister  at  AVashington.  says: 

"AA'here  the  location  of  a  coffee  plantation  is  judiciously 
made,  and  the  work  carried  on  intelligently  and  economic- 
ally, the  profits  realized  may  be  safely  put  at  IIMI  per  cent. 
per  annum  upon  the  investment." 


The  Mexican  Herald,  of  February  7th,  1897,  says: 

"Still  with  the  great  development  going  on.  the  industry 
in  Mexico  at  least  is  but  in  its  infancy.  The  profits  are 
still  great  and  not  likely  soon  to  fall.  If  there  was  a  satis- 
factory margin  of  profit  when  coffee  sold  at  13  cents  per 
pound,  what  must  it  now  be  when  the  average  pi-ice  is  IT, 
cents  per  pound?  AVith  improved  methods.  l>oth  in  cultiva- 
tion and  handling  the  crop,  the  profits  of  coffee  must  in- 
crease rather  than  diminish,  despite  the  anxiety  expressed 
by  some  that  the  business  is  likely  to  be  soon  overdon,-  be- 
cause  of  the  increased  number  of  investors  going  into  it. • 
That  has  been  the  cry  for  thirty  years,  and  still  the  busi- 
ness flourishes,  and  to-day  is  more  profitable  in  .Mexico 
than  it  ever  was." 

58 


From  "Railway  Revolution  in  Mexico,"  published  in  San 
Francisco,  1895: 

"At  present  the  cultivation  of  coffee  is  attracting  special 
attention,  and  on  the  eastern  slope  much  progress  has  al- 
ready been  made.  Among  the  reasons  is  Hie  extraordinary 
profit  which  the  production  of  coffee  offers.  The  cost  of  its 
production  in  Mexico,  in  general,  is  between  8  and  10  cents 
per  pound.  Mexican  money,  and  it  sells  at  frorn  25  to  32 
cents." 

From  "Coffee  in  Mexico,  Its  Cultivation  and  Profit,"  by 
Joseph  Walsh,  Philadelphia,  1894: 

".Mexican  coi't'ee  is  worth  at  present  20  to  22  cents  pel- 
pound  in  the  American  market,  while  the  average  cost  of 
production  is  7  cents.  A  plantation  will  pay  from  100  to 
300  per  cent,  on  the  capital  invested." 

From  "Coffee  Growing  in  Mexico,"  by  J.  P.  Taylor,  Mex- 
ico City,  1894: 

"Twenty-five  years  may  be  taken  as  the  average  of  coffee 
trees  to  remain  in  remunerative  bearing." 

"Estimates  as  to  the  profits  vary,  but  the  lowest  of  them 
are  enormous,  something  like  100  per  cent,  profit  on  the 

capital  employed." 

The  Mexican  Financier  says: 

"Ten  years  from  now  the  people  who  are  going  into  the 
coffee  business  in  this  country  will  be  rich  beyond  their  ex- 
pectations." 

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